Paddler passes through Mildura in leukaemia fundraising quest

A man paddling down the Murray River has so far raised $2,500 for a cancer charity.

Maarten de Wilt reached Mildura yesterday after covering 1,500 kilometres on his journey for the Leukaemia Foundation and in honour of his friend who died from leukaemia.

The fundraiser from Canberra says depending on the weather conditions, he is hoping to finish the trip in the next 18 days.

"The Murray is sort of like the main artery that carries water that brings life to the land and blood brings life to the body, so I thought it'd be really fitting for this sort of fundraiser, so that's why I'm doing it," he said.

Mr de Wilt says it will be sad to spend Christmas alone but completing the fundraising journey is his priority.

"It's the biggest thing I've done so far," he said.

"It's really testing me physically and mentally, which is all new to me, so it's not easy."